Fence-wire stretcher



(No Model.) Q a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. M. STEVENS. I

WIRE PENGE STRETGHER. .No. 248,063. Patented Oct. 11,1881.

(No Model.) 1 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

vs. S TEVENS.

WIRE 'FENG'E STRETOHER. No. 248,063. Patented. (ML-11,1881.

upside down.

upon Fig. 1, and shows the under side of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC SIDNEY M. STEVENS, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-WIRE STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,063, dated October 11,1881.

Application filed July 23, 1881. (No model.)

, in the form of portable winches; and the in vention consists in certain modifications and changes in stiucture tending to cheapen the cost, simplify the manufacture, and make the device more easy to operate and handlein doing the work of wire-stretching, as will be more fully hereinafter made apparent.

1n the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side view of the apparatus. The draftsman for convenience has shown the apparatus Fig. 2 is a view looking down device. Fig. 3 is a section on 00 00 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a section on y y of the same figure. which I sometimes use and its attachment.

Like letters of reference, made use of in the several figures, denote always the same parts.

It will be noticed that my improved apparatus is very light and portable, there being absolutely no more frame-work than necessary to support the winch-drum, its handle and bearings, and the griper.

In the drawings, A is the drum of the winch, having a suitable flange or shoulder, a a, at each end. To thisdrum is attached a strong cord or rope, B, or it may be, if preferred, a light chain. Thepreferable method of attachment of the rope B is to pass itthrough a perforation in one of the shoulders at. 7 v

At the free end of the rope Iaf fixsometimes a griping device, 0, consisting of a flanged .piece of metal secured to the rope and provided with a pivoted weighted cam-latch having a roughened surface, between which and the flange the wire may be securely griped when the rope is strained. Sometimes I'use merely a hook at this end of the rope, as in oporation-except when the apparatus is employed to draw the two free ends of a} fencewire'together--the rope is usually secured to a fence-post. I

Figs. 5 and 6 show the sliding handle To one of the heads of the drum is cast the crank D, furnished with the handle d. Instead, however, of being cast with thedrum,I sometimes find it. advantageous to make this crank of a separate bar of iron, H, and secure it to the drum-head by devices which will permit it to slide thereon. These devices may be headed rivets h and studs h,located relatively as shown. 'The studs may form a portion of the raised ridges h cast on the drum-head to remove the handle from the head and prevent friction.

I provide the bar H at each end with ahandie, so that at the time of greatest strain the operator may apply the full force of both hands to the work'of turning the winch,or may slide the bar through to give agreater leverage for operating with a single hand.

Through the axis of the drum is a taperhole fitted to receive the taper trunnion or axle, E, which projects from the griper F. The trunnion and drum are united by the rivet or bolt fand washerf,the rivet being inserted through the hollow trunnion into the hole in the small end of the same, and thence passing through a perforation in the head of the drum at thatside which carries the crank-arms For convenience in handling the device I drive into the hollow'of the trunnion a plughandle, G, of wood, which projects sufficiently to give a good firm holding place for the left hand of the operator.

Upon the outer end of the griper Fis a flange and pivoted cam F for holding the end of the wire. l

The shoulder a of the drum has its periphery cut into ratchet-teeth and a pawl, J,pivoted to the side of the griper pieee, takes intothese teeth to hold the slack as the winch is wound.

In operation, the end of the rope being securedto a wire or to. a post, the griper is attached to the wire to be stretched by means of the holder F. The slack is then taken up by winding up the rope on the winch.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim-- 1. The fence-wire stretcher consisting of an arm, F, carrying a griping device, and provided with a trunnion, E, a winding-drum mounted on said trunnion and secured directly thereto, and provided with an operating-crank,

and acord provided with a hool: or griper, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of arm F, hollow conical trunnion E, drum A, ratchet a, crank D, bolt or rivet f, griper F, pawl J, and cord B, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with thedruni, mounted on a trunnion at one side of the griper-carrying arm, of a handle, G, projecting from the opposite side, the crank, the ratchet, theeord, to the pawl, and griping device, substantially as specified.

SIDNEY M. STEVENS. Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, T. EVERETT BROWN. 

